Väinö Kokkinen

Väinö Kokkinen (November 25, 1899 – August 27, 1967) was a Finnish wrestler from Hollola in the Päijänne Tavastia region. He became two times Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, and also European champion.

Olympics

Kokkinen competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam where he received a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, the "middleweight" class. [http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=9&sp=WRE "1928 Summer Olympics – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Wrestling"] "databaseOlympics.com" (Retrieved on April 12, 2008)] He defended his gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,769659-3,00.html "Xth Olympiad"] – "Time (Monday, Aug. 22, 1932)" (Retrieved on April 12, 2008)] [http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=10&sp=WRE "1932 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles, United States – Wrestling"] "databaseOlympics.com" (Retrieved on April 12, 2008)] He also participated at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, where he finished 4th.

European and national championships

He became European champion in 1930 and obtained four silver medals at the European championships through his career, and was several times Finnish champion.

References